That moment when you know that’s it, that’s the one, it never really happened for me. It was like the pages of a book, a long book, each page flip brought you closer and closer to the middle, the build-up then no downfall. That’s how I’d best describe my relationship with Syler. He was the greatest story I’ve ever told, though, and I hope he’ll be my only as well.

None of our relationship or fucking or owning me or whatever he wants to call it was a breeze. It was fucked, and most of all, a lot of what happened was unnecessary. Most of it could have been averted if we hadn’t avoided each other for so long. We could have been happy earlier on, we could have worked out back then what we wanted to be. Neither of us had the balls to, though. We were happy with how we were, our bubble was good until it was popped by his crazy ass sister, Toska, who’s now serving a life sentence in a psychiatric ward.

Today will be the first day I’ll see her after a year. Syler hasn’t even seen her. He’s spoken to her every week since I found out he was avoiding Toska because he wanted to work on us. He seems content now, not so restless. To stop their relationship would have been damaging to us, not just to him. To break apart two people, who only had each other for all their lives was hard, not something I wanted to do.

It is his sister after all, even if I hate her. Hate’s a strong word, maybe highly dislike the crazy bitch is better. Her doctor has diagnosed her, and Syler says she seems different, so today’s the day we find out for ourselves.

Our relationship is still much the same, but stronger than ever before. His hands are always on me from the moment I walk in the door every day from work until we go to bed in the evening. He gets me to say those words every time we fuck still, every single time, they’re like his crack. We don’t use them lightly, we aren’t that couple that whispers I love you over and over before hanging up their cell phones. No. We grab them in our most intimate moments and steal them for ourselves so no one else can have them.

“Mouse,” he calls for me as I sit in the car out front of where Toska’s being rehabilitated. Saying I’ll come and being here are two completely different things. I have to force myself to get out of his car because I definitely don’t want to. And yes, he still calls me Mouse. He hardly ever calls me by my real name. Only when my father’s around, who’s currently dating and has finally sold our family home. I’m so proud of him. He and Syler get along great, too. Well, sometimes. My father is there being all technical and shit about computers with him when I get home from work some nights. It makes me laugh, but I’m glad they have something in common and enjoy each other’s company.

“I’m coming.”

He opens my car door and offers me his hand as he looks down. “We can leave anytime you want.”

I nod my head, getting out. He places his hand on my back as we go in through security. My handbag is left at the front desk, and we’re guided into a seating area. Toska’s already there, her red hair bright, her smile big, when she sees us. Her eyes scan Syler first, then to me. She actually appears surprised to see me.

“You both came.” Her voice, it sounds calmer. Which I never thought I’d hear from Toska. She’s full-on, always has been. Syler’s hand stays on me the whole time, not moving. She smiles at her brother then looks at me. “Jaya, I’m sorry.” Her apology surprises me. Toska doesn’t apologize for anything. She never has.

“The doctors say you’re doing well,” Syler says, and she turns back to him smiling.

“The medication makes me drowsy, but good.”

Syler nods and reaches for my hand which is in my lap sweating.

“Syler said you two are married.” She looks at Syler’s hand, then to mine which is still hiding under the table. “I wish I was there to celebrate with you.”

“Do you?” I ask her, not believing she’s changed. Syler might. Doesn’t mean I have to. After all, it was me she tried to kill out of jealousy.

“I do. Syler told me all about it. You eloped, with only your dad there.”

I look at him not knowing he’d told her. He glances over to me as if to apologize for himself.

“We did. It was, well... spontaneous.”

It was. He asked me in bed, knowing I wouldn’t say no. He gets me every time in that damn bed, that’s why he won’t get rid of it. His lucky charm, he calls it. I was surprised when he asked. Syler isn’t the marrying type. He did tell me he was the owning type, though. I laughed because if we're honest, I own him more than he owns me. Syler only owns me in the bedroom, which I happily give to him.

“Congratulations.” Her eyes land on mine.

“Thank you.” I nod my head, and we stay for a while longer. She tells us about her friends she’s made and asks us when we can come back again. If we’ll come back. Syler tells her, “yes,” but there’s a definite “no,” answer from me.

I only came today, for him. Coming again may not be in my cards. I’m happy for him to visit, but it won’t be my cup of tea to keep coming here, and I don’t think it should be expected of me either.

“I fucking love you, wife.”

Oh yeah, there’s that word, too. He likes using that word as much as he likes Mouse. It’s even tattooed on him, along with a picture of a Mouse. I laughed when I saw it.

“I’m not coming back.”

He nods his head, pushing my back into his car. Leaning down, he kisses me. He steals my kisses just the same way he stole my heart, in pieces then all at once. Pulling away, he closes my door with a kiss on my cheek. Looking over his shoulder I see her, watching us, smirking her evil smile with her dark eyes. She offers me a small wave, but a shiver breaks over me.

Toska hasn’t changed.

She’s just a very good actor.